A 42-year-old man faces felony charges for allegedly beating up a man and stealing items from him at a Rochester motel.
Nugene Watkins Jr., no permanent address, was charged this week with first-degree robbery and third-degree assault in Olmsted County District Court.
According to the criminal complaint, Watkins and the victim had a disagreement earlier in the evening of July 27 and the victim told the suspect "to stay away from him." A half an hour later, the victim said Watkins and three other men showed up at his northwest Rochester motel room. Someone else in the room let the men in and the victim took off running. He told police that Watkins and the others chased him and tackled him near the stairs. As the victim tried to get up, the suspects started kicking him and stomped on his leg. During the attack, the victim's wallet and cell phone were taken.
After the suspects left, the victim crawled down the stairs for help. He suffered a broken leg and went to the hospital for treatment. When officers responded, they noticed a silver Cadillac circling the parking lot. They talked to the driver who said her passenger was involved in the incident and gave them a room number. They went to motel room and found Watkins in the room. He told officers that he had gone to the victim's room and got into an argument and kicked the man down the stairs. He also told officers he hit the victim a couple of times.
Watkins is being held at the Olmsted County Law Enforcement Center. Bail with conditions has been set at $25,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 13.
